A row cropping system with cover crops for balancing weed and soil fertility management in organic cereal production

Summary

This manuscript shows the result from testing the new row cropping system for its ability to produce a balanced combination of inter-row hoeing and undersown cover crop in order to obtain a sufficient N supply and an effective weed control as well as to identify optimal sowing time for high biomass production and cover crop species suited for late undersowing. The new system produced a sufficient N supply and an acceptable weed control effect, leading to an improvement in the subsequent crop yield. Yield in this system is potentially improved further because some managements are suggested to increase its weed control effect, especially for the perennial creeping thistle cirsium arvense.